Back from the pass wall, Ning Chen and the others gathered in a tent.

In the middle of the tent stood the sand table.

It showed the whole lay of the land beyond the pass at a glance.

Ning Chen studied the sand table and asked casually, "What's the situation on the Gaoli side?"

Xiao Yanxi said, "From what I've heard, the garrison commander of Gaotian City, Piao Fangtu, is urgently requisitioning grain and fodder.

But at their pace, they'll never reach the frontier in twenty days."

Ning Chen smiled. Having the scout say twenty days had only been part of the act, to fool Li Zang and the others.

Jianxuan Pass was very close to the Great Xuan's frontier. At speed, a round trip took only ten-odd days.

He didn't mean to stop at swallowing Nanyue alone, either. This time he was the house... and the house takes everything!

Yuan Long laughed. "This Jin Tiancheng is certainly full of sincerity. He's actually sent people with money and grain to negotiate."

Ning Chen sneered. "The guy's a moron, but his ambition is enormous.

After all, if he wins us over, he can walk into the Great Xuan without the cost of a single soldier.

Whoever breaks into the Great Xuan is sure to leave his mark in the histories in bold, heavy ink... It's just like when we took the Nanyue imperial city. Our soldiers acted as if they'd been dosed with something. A name in the history books, a page of his own in the family tree: not many men can resist a temptation like that."

Ning Chen turned to Xiao Yanxi. "Send word to Prince Wu and the others. They can set out."

Xiao Yanxi nodded.

Ning Chen picked up a small flag and planted it on the sand table, at the second passage through Mount Buddha's Hand beyond the pass.

"Wu Tiezhu, hear my orders!"

"This officer is here!"

Ning Chen pointed at the sand table. "Ten days from now, you'll lead the Ning'an Army out of the pass under cover of night. Follow the second passage…